Armenian President Held The Annual Meeting With The Heads Of Commerc

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT HELD THE ANNUAL MEETING WITH THE HEADS OF COMMERCIAL BANKS

Mediamax Agency, Armenia
March 21 2007

Yerevan, March 21 /Mediamax/. Armenian President Robert Kocharian
discussed the development prospects of the banking sector during the
annual meeting with the heads of commercial banks.

As Mediamax was told in the presidential press service today, Robert
Kocharian stated that despite the quick development speeds of the
Armenian banking sector, there is the necessity to enlarge the
banking sector of the country and to provide large-scale financial
services. In this context, the President highlighted the need to
implement new approaches and technologies.

During the meeting, the issues of mortgage crediting, implementation
of insurance system and pension reforms were discussed.

The bankers noted that the primary task for the increase of the level
of economy bankization is to attract inner financial resources into
the banking sector, for which it is necessary to increase the level
of confidence for the banks.

The heads of the banks also touched upon some shortcomings in the
legislation concerning the taxation of financial transactions.

During the meeting the activities of the Union of Banks of Armenia
was considered. The Chairman of the Union Stepan Gishian informed
the President that 19 banks are members of the structure. Recently
the Union became an associate member of the European Union of Banks,
which assists the enlargement of cooperation with the banking system
of Europe and implementation of new methods in the banking sector
of Armenia.

Robert Kocharian noted that he expects the banks to preserve the speeds
of development of the banking system and to implement new technologies.